SOLOMON SPAULDING & SIDNEY RIGDON
TRUE SOURCE OF THE BOOK OF MORMON AND FOUNDER OF MORMONISM
1) Solomon Spaulding began writing "Manuscript Story - Conneaut Creet" in
1811 but never finished.
Who Really Wrote The Book of Mormon?, pgs 81-83, 86, 89.
2) John Pinkerton published "The
Curious and Remarkable Voyages and Travels of Marco Polo" and "Voyages
and Travels in Asia" in 1811.
Book of Mormon, Book of Lies, pgs 100; 551. Copy of title pages.
3) Solomon Spaulding wrote "The Frogs of Wyndham" for his daughter Matilda.
Who Really Wrote The Book of Mormon?, pg 86.
4) Robert Kerr published "Travels of Verthema" and "Conquest of Mexico" in 1811. "Voyages and Travels" was published in 1812.
Book of Mormon, Book of Lies, pg 103 Copy of title page. Plagiarizing sequence diagrams on pgs 422-423.
5) Solomon Spaulding begins and finishes "Manuscript Found" in 1812 with
King James language.
Abner
Jackson letter to Historical Society, December 20, 1880; The Mormon
Bible, Missouri Republican, May 29, 1885; Who Really Wrote The Book of
Mormon?, pg 27, 81.
6) Plot and characters of "Manuscript Found" are identical to the Book of
Mormon.
The Origin of the
Book of Mormon, Sewickley Herald, November 23, 1912; Who Really Wrote The Book of Mormon?, pg 27.
Book of Mormon, Book of Lies, plagiarizing sequence diagrams on pgs 422-423.
7) The phrase "And it came to pass" numerously
occurs in both "Manuscript
Found" and the 1830 BOM.
Abner Jackson
letter to Historical Society, December 20, 1880; Who Really Wrote The Book of Mormon?, pg 27.
8) The "Manuscript Found" was left in Pittsburgh at the printing office of
Patterson and Lambdin.
Mormonism
Unveiled, pg 288; Matilda Davison Statement, March 1, 1839; Who Really
Wrote The Book of Mormon?, pgs 106-109, 124-127, 176.
9) Sidney Rigdon received mail in Pittsburgh at the same time as Solomon Spaulding.
The
Commonwealth - July 9, 1816; Rebecca Johnston Eichbaum statement,
September 18, 1879; Who Really Wrote The Book of Mormon?, pgs 119,
134-137, 176.
10) Solomon Spaulding knew of Sidney Rigdon while in Pittsburgh.
Josiah
Spaulding letter, January 6, 1855; Redick McKee letter, April 15, 1879;
Redick McKee letter, January 25, 1886; The Spaulding Memorial, 1879,
pgs 237-239; Who Really Wrote The Book of Mormon?, pgs 121-122, 126,
175, 197.
11) Solomon Spaulding suspected that Sidney Rigdon stole his
"Manuscript Found" before he died.
Pittsburgh Telegraph, February 6, 1879; Joseph Miller letter, January 20, 1882;
New Light on Mormonism, pgs 240-241; Who Really Wrote The Book of Mormon?, pgs 124-125, 176, 197.
12) Sidney Rigdon loved books and reading from an early age.
Dialogue:
A Journal of Mormon Thought 1 (Winter 1966), pg 20; Moore’s Rural New
Yorker 1869, pg 61; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pg
5; Who Really Wrote The Book of Mormon?, pgs 99, 119, 175.
13) Sidney Rigdon grew up outside of Pittsburgh and obtained books from the
growing town.
Who Really Wrote The Book of Mormon?, pgs 119, 175.
14) Sidney Rigdon faked his Christian conversion in 1817.
Early Days of Mormonism 1888, pg 64; Early History of the disciples
in the Western Reserve 1875, pgs 191-192; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of
Religious Excess, pg 8; Who Really Wrote The Book of Mormon?, pgs 100,
172.
15) Rigdon converted to the baptismal regeneration heresy in 1820.
Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pgs 18, 29, 39; Who Really Wrote The Book of Mormon?, pg 101.
16) Boarders at Rigdon's home remember seeing Spaulding's book in the 1820s.
Who Really Wrote the Book of Mormon?, pg 177.
17) Joseph Smith found his peep stone that was used to con people about buried treasure.
Mormonism Unveiled, pgs 240-248; The Early Days of Mormonism,
Lippincott's Magazine of Popular Literature, August 1880; Who Really
Wrote the Book of Mormon?, pgs 182, 188-189, 200.
18) Alexander Campbell taught Rigdon to secretly bring in heresies.
The Millennial Harbinger 1848, pg 523; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pg 23, 30.
19) Sidney Rigdon was pastor of the Pittsburgh Baptist Church in 1822.
Sidney Rigdon, The Real Founder of Mormonism 1885, pgs 140-141;
Times and Seasons May 4, 1843, pg 177; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of
Religious Excess, pgs 27-28.
20) Rigdon had to support a family and was poor while in Pittsburgh.
Times and Seasons May 1, 1843, pgs 177-178; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pgs 28-29, 34-35.
21) Sidney Rigdon joined Joseph Smith in search for buried treasure.
Mormonism - Religious Fanaticism - Church and State Party, New York Morning
Courier and Enquirer, August 31, 1831; Who Really Wrote the Book of Mormon?, pg
201.
22) Sidney Rigdon used Joseph Smith's buried treasure story and invented the BOM
golden plates story.
Mormon Religion - Clerical Ambition, Morning Courier and Enquirer, September 1,
1831; Who Really Wrote the Book of Mormon?, pgs 201-203.
23) Sidney Rigdon rejected Christian creeds in 1824.
A Debate on Christian Baptism Between The Rev. W. L. MacCalla, A
Presbyterian Teacher, and Alexander Campbell, Held at Washington, Ky.
Commencing on the 15th and Terminating on the 21st Oct. 1823; Sidney
Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pg 33, 39; Who Really Wrote The
Book of Mormon, pg 101.
24) Sidney Rigdon was status conscious through out his life.
Sidney Rigdon, The Real Founder of Mormonism 1885, pg 145; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pg 35.
25) Sidney Rigdon began a restoration movement in 1825 Ohio.
Times and Seasons May 15, 1843, pg 194; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pgs 40-41.
26) Sidney Rigdon was continually seeking attention for himself.
Times and Seasons May 15, 1843, pg 193; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pgs 42-43.
27) Sidney Rigdon loved establishing new doctrines in Ohio.
A History of the Disciples in Christ in Ohio, pgs 123-124; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pg 46.
28) Parley Pratt was a Rigdon disciple before becoming a Mormon.
The Autobiography of Parley Parker Pratt, pg 32; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pg 46.
29) The Smith family were active Presbyterians until September 1828.
The Question of the Palmyra Revival, pgs 59-82; Who Really Wrote the Book of Mormon?, pg 180.
30) Rigdon advocated communal living and rejected private property.
Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pgs 50-51.
31) Despite being poor, Rigdon turned down a paying position in 1830.
Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pg 52.
32) Rigdon disciples were weak minded who needed an authority figure.
Edward Partridge Papers, May 26, 1839; The Autobiography of Parley
Parker Pratt, pg 32; Eliza R. Snow: An Immortal, pg 5; Sidney Rigdon, A
Portrait of Religious Excess, pg 53.
33) Early Mormon converts were mostly Sidney Rigdon disciples.
Millennial Star November 19, 1864, pg 744; Eliza R. Snow: An Immortal,
pg 6; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pg 55.
34) Rigdon knew about the BOM at least two years before publication.
Millennial Harbinger 1844, pg 39; Sidney Rigdon, The Real Founder of
Mormonism 1885, pg 103; The Story of the Mormons 1923, pgs 65-66;
Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pgs 55-56.
35) The first 116 lost pages of the BOM were never retranslated by Joseph Smith.
History of the Church, 1:21-22; No Man Knows My History, pg 54; Who Really Wrote the Book of Mormon?, pg 188.
36) Rigdon wrote the baptismal regeneration heresy into the BOM.
2 Ne 9:23-24; 2 Ne 31:5-17; Mosiah 18:10-17; Mosiah 26:4-22; Alma 5:62;
Alma 7:14; Alma 9:27; Alma 49:30; Hel 3:24; Hel 5:17-19; 3 Ne 7:24-26;
3 Ne 9:20; 3 Ne 11:33-38; 3 Ne 12:1-2; 3 Ne 23:5; 3 Ne 27:16; 3 Ne
27:20; 3 Ne 30:2; Morm 3:2; Morm 7:8-10; Moro 6:1-4; Moro 7:34; Moro
8:4-25; Who Really Wrote The Book of Mormon, pg 101.
37) Joseph Smith was not savvy in keeping the BOM secret.
Origin, Rise, and Progress of Mormonism 1867, pgs 280-284; Rochester
Advertiser and Telegraph August 31, 1829; History of the Church, 1:315;
Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pgs 56-57.
38) Joseph Smith's "first vision" story of 1832 contradicted the established church 1838 story version.
The Manuscript History of the Church; The Early Accounts of Joseph
Smith's First Vision, BYU Studies, Spring 1969; Mormonism, Freedonia
Censor, March 7, 1832; Inventing Mormonism, pgs 4, 17-18; Who Really
Wrote the Book of Mormon?, pgs 178-180.
39) Sidney Rigdon’s sudden conversion to Mormonism was faked.
Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 1966, pg 20; Deseret Evening News
April 21, 1879; Times and Seasons August 15, 1843, pg 289; History of
the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 4:452-453;
Mormonism Unveiled, pg 102; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious
Excess, pgs 58-59.
40) Sidney Rigdon immediately allowed Mormonism to be preached to his congregation.
Brief History of the Church of Christ of Latter Day Saints 1839, pg 7;
Times and Seasons August 15, 1843, pgs 289-290; Moore’s Rural New
Yorker January 23, 1869, pg 61, Mormonism Unveiled 1838, pg 41; Sidney
Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pgs 59-60.
41) Sidney Rigdon used deceptive false visions to advance the BOM.
Mormonism Unveiled 1838, pg 217; Times and Seasons August 15, 1843, pg
290; Stephen Post Collection; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious
Excess, pgs 60-61.
42) Sidney Rigdon immediately began preaching Mormonism after conversion and baptism.
Early Days of Mormonism 1888, pg 81; Mormonism Unveiled 1838, pg 41; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pgs 62-63.
43) Sidney Rigdon was convinced about the success of Mormonism.
Post Collection, July 1 1868 Revelation; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pg 63.
44) Rigdon used Smith to pronounce the baptismal regeneration heresy.
D&C 13:1; 18:22; 18:41-42; 19:31; 20:25; 20:41; 33:11; 39:6; 39:10;
49:13; 55:1-2; 68:27; 84:27; 84:64; 84:74; 107:20; 112:29; 124:29;
127:5-6, 10; 128; 137:6.
45) Sidney Rigdon began a Bible revision through revelation.
An Early Latter Day Saint History 1980, pg 31; Teachings of the Prophet
Smith 1938, pgs 9, 327; Brigham Young University Studies 1971, pg 406;
Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pgs 72-73.
46) Rigdon and Smith who both
distained work and encouraged a western migration to prosperous Ohio
via a false deceptive prophecy.
Early History of the Disciples in the Western Reserve, pg 214; D&C 37; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pg 74.
47) Rigdon and Smith used doom and gloom prophecies to hasten the migration to Ohio.
An Early Latter Day History, pgs 31-32; Palmyra Reflector February 1,
1831; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pg 75.
48) Not succeeding in persuading the prosperous farmers to move to Ohio, Rigdon and Smith commanded them to move.
D&C 38; An Early Latter Day History, pgs 32-35; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pgs 75-76.
49) Rigdon pronounced that New York would be destroyed by God.
Palmyra Reflector January 26, 1831; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pgs 76-77.
50) Rigdon through Smith solidified their financial well-being through deceptive prophetic pronouncements.
D&C 41; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pgs 79, 82.
51) Rigdon rigorously defended his BOM and Joseph Smith as prophet.
Inventing Mormonism: Tradition and the Historical Record 1994, pgs
63-87; Mormonism Unveiled 1834, pgs 112-114; Journal History January
15, 1831; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pgs 79-80.
52) Against knowledgeable people, Rigdon refused to defend the BOM and Joseph Smith as prophet.
Painesville Telegraph February 15, 1831; Millennial Harbinger 1831, pgs
100-101; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pgs 80-81.
53) Rigdon and Smith put themselves in charge of church money through deceptive prophecies.
Book of Commandments 40, pgs 82-83; D&C 38:26-27; D&C 49:20;
D&C 42:39; History of the Church, 1:146-147; Sidney Rigdon, A
Portrait of Religious Excess, pgs 84-86.
54) Rigdon through Smith pronounced
communal living and rejected private property via false deceptive
prophecies with Mormon leaders getting extra benefits.
Newel K. Whitney Papers; D&C 70:3-18; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pg 86.
55) Rigdon resorted to personal slander when cornered by Alexander Campbell.
Mormonism Unveiled, pgs 209-210; Millennial Harbinger 1831, pg 332; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pg 96.
56) Sidney Rigdon introduced the priesthood offices per David Whitmer.
An Address to All Believers in Christ 1887, pgs 35, 64; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pg 98.
57) The Missouri "New Jerusalem" began to backfire for Sidney Rigdon and Joseph Smith in 1831.
History of the Church 1:189; Mormonism Unveiled 1834, pgs 176-177, 202; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pg 99.
58) Sidney Rigdon nevertheless proceeded to consecrate and dedicate the land for the Missouri temple.
Book of Commandments 59:63; Mormonism Unveiled 1834, pg 198; An Early
Latter Day Saint History 1980, pg 79; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of
Religious Excess, pg 100.
59) Sidney Rigdon quickly returned to prosperous Ohio from Missouri in 1831.
Book of Commandments 61:1; Mormonism Unveiled 1834, pgs 198-199; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pg 101.
60) Smith turned on Rigdon and forced him to write a non-prophetic real estate brochure about Missouri.
D&C 63:55-57; D&C 58:51; An Early Latter Day Saint History
1980, pgs 81-83; The History of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter Day Saints 1967, 1:205-209; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of
Religious Excess, pgs 102-104.
61) Sidney Rigdon and Joseph Smith preferred Kirtland over Missouri.
History of the Church, 1:189; D&C 64:21; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pg 105.
62) Rigdon resorted to religious shifts when faced with difficulties in 1831.
Mormonism Unvailed 1834, pg 177; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pg 109.
63) Rigdon resorted to slander when cornered by Ezra Booth.
Special Collections, BYU – box 3, folder 3; Messenger and Advocate
1836, pg 242; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pg 111.
64) Mormons preaching in Solomon Spaulding's former home town caused
excitement in 1832.
Journal of Orson Hyde, BYU Special Collections; Letter of Judge
Aron Wright, December 31, 1833; Who Really Wrote The Book of Mormon, pg 33.
65) Rigdon told Smith details of the 1832 Three Degrees of Glory Vision.
D&C 76; The Juvenile Instructor – May 15, 1882, pgs 303-304; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pgs 112-113.
66) Rigdon continued to use revelation for financial gain in 1832 Ohio.
Duty of Bishops 1832 – Special Collections, BYU; Kirtland Revelation
Book, pgs 10-11, 17-18; Jesse Gause: Joseph Smith’s Little-Known
Counselor, BYU Studies – Fall 1983, pgs 487-493; Sidney Rigdon, A
Portrait of Religious Excess, pgs 113-114.
67) Rigdon and Smith were tarred and feathered for their greed in 1832.
A History of the Disciples of Christ in Ohio 1918, pg 126; Naked Truths
About Mormonism 1888, pg 1; Letter to A.S. Hayden – February 1, 1868;
Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pgs 114-118.
68) Rigdon instigated financial revelation changes in 1832 Missouri.
Kirtland Revelation Book, pg 16; D&C 78; Saints Herald – February
5, 1887; Melvin J. Peterson, M.A. thesis, BYU – 1955; Restoration
Scriptures 1969, pgs 196-263; Changes in the Revelations 1992, pgs
87-112; History of the Church, 1:365-366. Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of
Religious Excess, pgs 124-125.
69) Rigdon preached for a house a tactic later used by Joseph Smith.
Cahoon’s May 18, 1832 diary; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pg 126.
70) Rigdon rigged his place in Mormon hierarchy and fulfillment of Book of Mormon prophecy.
D&C 100:9-12; 2 Ne 7, 15, 17; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pg 128.
71) Sidney Rigdon renamed the church to “The Church of the Latter-day Saints” due to millennial madness.
Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pg 149.
72) Rigdon was in charge of the church when Smith was leading the failed military campaign called Zion’s Camp to Missouri.
An American Prophet’s Record 1989, pg 27; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pg 149.
73) Rigdon concocted an "end of the world" prophecy to explain Joe Smith's failed Zion's Camp.
History of the Church 2:142, 182; Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star
October 27, 1890 – pg 675; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious
Excess, pgs 151-152.
74) With the lost of Zion in Missouri, Rigdon pushed for Kirtland Ohio to be the “sacred place in exile.”
Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star December 16, 1854 – pg 788; An Early
Latter Day Saint History 1980, pg 121; Times and Seasons April 15, 1845
– pg 865; The Kirtland Temple 1986, pg 23; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of
Religious Excess, pg 155.
75) Sidney Rigdon was the force behind the publication of Mormon prophecies.
An Address to All Believers in Christ 1887, pgs 54-55; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pgs 160-161.
76) Sidney Rigdon promoted education for ignorant Mormons such as Joseph Smith and Brigham Young.
D&C 88; Journal History – January 24, 1833; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pg 161.
77) Philastus Hurlbut
was excommunicated and began his work of collecting affidavits in Ohio and New
York.
Mormonism Unveiled, pgs 278-287; Who Really Wrote The Book of Mormon, pgs 34-46.
78) Joseph Smith never disputed the contents of Mormonism Unveiled. Instead he
used personal slander.
To the Elders of the Church of the Latter-Day Saints, Messenger and Advocate,
December 1835; Who Really Wrote the Book of Mormon, pgs 35-36, 196.
79) The veracity of the affidavits are verified
by Arthur Deming and Ellen Dickinson the grandniece of Spaulding.
New Light on
Mormonism, pgs 257-258; Who Really Wrote The Book of Mormon, pgs 51-54.
80) Sidney Rigdon promoted the religious education of the Mormons in 1834.
Latter Day Saints Messenger and Advocate, April 1835 – pg 80;
Encyclopedia of Mormonism 1992, 4:819; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of
Religious Excess, pg 161.
81) Sidney Rigdon’s theology was removed by the Mormon church in 1921.
The Lectures on Faith: A Case Study in Decanonization – Dialogue: A
Journal of Mormon Thought 1987, pgs 71-77; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of
Religious Excess, pgs 161-162.
82) Sidney Rigdon purposely changed
the prophecies contained in the Doctrine and Covenants from the earlier
Book of Commandments.
Melvin J. Petersen – M.A. thesis, BYU, 1955; History of the Church,
2:481; An Address to All Believers in Christ 1887, pg 56, 59, 61;
Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pgs 162-163.
83) Sidney Rigdon publicly slandered his brother-in-law over an inheritance.
Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate June 1836, pgs 334-335;
Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pg 164; Who Really Wrote
the Book of Mormon?, pg 174.
84) Sidney Rigdon publicly slandered the Campbellites over end times prophecies.
Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate June 1836, pgs 297-299; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pgs 164-165.
85) Sidney Rigdon publicly slandered Oliver Barr over the new Mormon gospel.
Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate June 1836, pgs 325-329; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pg 165.
86) Sidney Rigdon through Smith used revelations to get the Kirtland temple built.
D&C 36:8, 38:32, 95:3, 11-17; History of the Church 2:239; The
Early Temples of the Mormons 1978, pg 36; Journal of Discourses 14:273;
Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pgs 166-167.
87) Sidney Rigdon established Mormon temple ceremonies.
An American Prophet’s Record 1989, pgs 57-58; Oliver Cowder’s Kirtland,
Ohio, Sketch Book, BYU Studies 1972, pgs 416-418; Sidney Rigdon, A
Portrait of Religious Excess, pgs 169-170.
88) Sidney Rigdon was in charge of the Kirtland temple dedication services.
Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate March 1836, pgs 274-278; The
Far West 1838, pg 113; Early History of the Disciples in the Western
Reserve 1875, pgs 191-192; The Women of Mormondom 1877, pg 99; Sidney
Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pgs 170-172.
89) Sidney Rigdon led a Mormon delegation to Salem, Massachusetts seeking hidden money.
History of the Church 2:464; Joseph Smith and Salem 1964, pgs 93-94;
The Return July 1889, pgs 105-106; Very Important to the Mormon Money
Diggers March 20, 1843; The Personal Writings of Joseph Smith 1984, pg
350; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pgs 180-181.
90) Sidney Rigdon began an illegal Mormon banking scheme in Kirtland, Ohio.
Latter Day Saints Messenger and Advocate September 1836, pg 375;
Sources on the History of the Mormons in Ohio: 1830-1838, BYU Studies
1971, pgs 531-532; A Collection of Facts Relative to the Course Taken
by Elder Sidney Rigdon 1844, pg 10; Latter Day Saints Messenger and
Advocate 3:443, 475; Wilford Woodruff’s Journal 1983, 1:120; Sidney
Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pgs 182-184.
91) Sidney Rigdon was the chief spokesman for the Kirtland banking scheme.
Early Days of Mormonism 1888, pg 163; Mormons in Ohio, pgs 531-532;
Painesville Telegraph January 27, 1837; Latter Day Saints’ Messenger
and Advocate January 1837, pg 443; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of
Religious Excess, pgs 185-186.
92) Sidney Rigdon and Joseph Smith both fled Ohio before they could be arrested for bank fraud.
Cleveland Weekly Gazette – February 1, 1837; Thomas Newell and His
Descendants 1878; Common Pleas, Record Book U, Geauga County, Ohio;
Autobiography and Recollections of a Pioneer Printer 1878, pg 45;
Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pg 186.
93) The actions of Sidney Rigdon and Joseph Smith helped start a national banking crisis.
The Republican – March 15, 1838; The Failure of the Kirtland Safety
Society Anti-Banking Company – Journal of Economic History, December
30, 1971; The Kirtland Temple 1986, pg 84; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of
Religious Excess, pgs 186-187.
94) Many Mormons became enraged at Sidney Rigdon and Joseph Smith for the banking
crisis of 1837.
Wilford
Woodruff's Journal 1983, 1:147-148; Charges Against Joseph Smith -
Newel K. Whitney Collection, BYU; Vault 76, box 2 - Special
Collections, BYU; Oliver Huntington Journal, 28 - Special Collections,
BYU; Biography and Family History of Lorenzo Snow 1884, pgs 20-21;
History of Joseph Smith by His Mother 1958, pg 241; Sidney Rigdon, A
Portrait of Religious Excess, pgs 196-197.
95) Sidney Rigdon and Joseph Smith blamed others for the banking scheme they created.
Latter Day Saint's
Messenger and Advocate - August 1837, pg 560; History of the Church 2:497;
Journal of Discourses - November 15, 1864, 11:11; Elder's Journal - August 1838
editorial; Nauvoo Neighbor - June 19, 1844; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pgs 199-201.
96)
Sidney Rigdon jumped on the temperance national bandwagon to feign
righteousness.
Wilford Woodruff's Journal 1983, 1:110-111; Far West Record 1983, pg 124; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pg 202.
97) The religious schemes of Sidney Rigdon and Joseph
Smith in Kirtland were exposed by former Mormons.
New York Times, December 25, 1887; Pioneers of the Western
Reserve 1883, pg 303; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pgs 202-203.
98) Sidney Rigdon
and Joseph Smith used a false deceptive
prophecy as cover for escaping Ohio for Missouri.
The Scriptory Book of Joseph Smith, pgs 51-52; An American
Prophet's Record, pgs 192-193; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pgs 203-204.
99) Sidney Rigdon
gave the keynote sermon on the 8th anniversary of the church.
Life Story of Sidney Rigdon, pg 68; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pg 213.
100) Rigdon and Smith began a revisionist
history to counter actuate journalism on their activities.
History of the Church, 1:1, 3:15-16; An American Prophet's Record
1989, pgs 176-177; Times and Seasons - April 24, 1843, pg 172; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pgs 213-214.
101) Rigdon and Smith began a dictatorial rule
of the church in 1838 Far West, Missouri.
History of the Church 3:284; Frederick Granger Williams of the First
Presidency of the Church, BYU Studies - Spring 1972, pg 258; Brief
History of the Church of Christ of Latter Day Saints 1839, pg 59; An
American Prophet's Record 1989, pg 187; Correspondence and Orders 1841,
pgs 103-106, 138-139; High Treason and Murder - BYU Studies - Spring
1986, pgs 17-18; Wilford Woodruff's Journal 1985, 2:378; An Early
Latter Day Saint History 1980, pg 162; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of
Religious Excess, pgs 215-216.
102) Rigdon and Smith formed the Danites to destroy opposition within and outside
the church.
The Destroying Angels of Mormondom 1878, pgs 8-9; Brief History of the
Church of Christ of Latter Day Saints 1839, pg 31; Missouri Republican
- November 20, 1838; Items of Personal History of the Editor 1889, pg
145; Mormons So Called 1839, pgs 6-10; Correspondence and Orders 1841,
pg 111; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pgs 216-217.
103) Rigdon blasted Mormon dissenters via
the "Salt Sermon" on June 17, 1838.
D&C 103:2-15; Mormons So Called 1839, pg 6-8; Correspondence and
Orders 1841, pgs 138-139; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pgs 217-218.
104) Rigdon threatened the life's of
Mormon dissenters via the Danites.
Journal History, November 13, 1838; Correspondence and Orders
1841, pgs 138-139; An American Prophet's Record 1989, pg 187; An Early Latter
Day Saint History 1980, pg 165; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pgs 218-219.
105)
Sidney Rigdon condemned Missouri non-Mormons
publicly in a sermon on July 4, 1838.
Correspondence and Orders 1841, pg 122; The Return 1889, 1:170;
Elders Journal August 1838, 1:60; Two Rare Missouri Documents, BYU Studies 1974,
14:527; Items of Personal History, pg 149; Autobiography of Parley Pratt 1976,
pg 173; Times and Seasons April 1840, 1:81; An American Prophet's Record 1989,
pgs 186-187; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pgs 220-221.
106) Divine displeasure came upon Rigdon
and Smith after the July 4th sermon via a lightning storm.
Times and Seasons April 1840, 1:81; The Return 1889, 1:145-151;
Oliver Huntington Dairy 1875, pg 129 - BYU Special Collections; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pgs 222.
107) Rigdon and Smith threatened the life
of a Missouri judge after a August 1838 election day scuffle.
Journal History - August 6-7, 1838; The 1838 Mormon War in Missouri
1987, pgs 58-64; Mormonism Unveiled 1877, pgs 56-60; Mormonism Exposed
1840, pg 29; An American Prophet's Record 1989, pg 202; Testimony Given
the Judge of the Fifth Judicial District of the State of Missouri 1841,
pg 161; Quest for Refuge 1989, pg 85; History of the Church 3:61;
Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pgs 231-232.
108) Rigdon and Smith refused to back
down in their confrontation with Missouri non-Mormons.
Scriptory Book of Joseph Smith - September 1, 1838; An American
Prophet's Record 1989, pgs 210-211; Mormons So Called 1839, pgs 19-22; History
of the Church 3:180-181; An Early Latter Day Saint History 1980, pg 165; Oliver
B. Huntington Journal - BYU Special Collections; The Last Months of Mormonism in
Missouri - BYU Studies 1988, 28:23; Mormonism, Embracing the Origin, Rise and
Progress of the Sect 1844, pg 226; Mormonism Exposed 1840, pg 33; Correspondence
and Orders 1841, pgs 57-59; Quest for Refuge 1989, pg 96; Missouri Argus -
November 8, 1838; The Return 1890, 2:216; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pgs 232-236.
109) Missouri Governor Bogg's
"extermination order" was the direct result of the Rigdon's and Smith's actions.
Testimony Given Before the Judge of the Fifth Judicial District
1841, pgs 14, 61; Mormons So Called 1839, pg 8; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pg 236.
110) Rigdon and Smith lost courage when
the Missouri state militia arrived at Far West, Missouri.
Journal History - August 16, 1857; Mormons So Called 1839, pgs
24-25; Times and Seasons July 15, 1843, 4:275; Messenger and Advocate - August
1, 1845; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pgs 237-238.
111) Sidney Rigdon and Joseph Smith quickly surrendered
to the Missouri state militia.
History of the Church 3:445; The Autobiography of Parley Pratt
1888, pg 203; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pgs 238-239.
112) Brigham Young advised the Danites to
flee after the arrest of Sidney Rigdon and Joseph Smith.
Journal History - November 1, 1838; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pg 239.
113) General Doniphan of the Missouri
militia prevented Rigdon and Smith from being executed.
History of Caldwell and Livingston Counties, pg 137; Dialogue: A
Journal of Mormon Thought - Winter 1966, pg 36; Times and Seasons - July 15,
1843, 4:251; Recollections and Opinions of an Old Pioneer 1880, pg 63; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pg 240.
114) The Missouri state prosecutor proved
that the Mormons were guilty of treason.
Mormon Memoirs - Liberty Tribune, April 9, 1886; Correspondence
and Orders 1840, pg 90; Recollections and Opinions of an Old Pioneer 1880, pgs
63-64; Testimony Given Before the Judge of the Fifth Judicial District 1841, pgs
97-98; The Autobiography of Parley Pratt 1888, pg 230; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pgs 250-251.
115) Sidney Rigdon proclaimed that he
suffered more than Jesus Christ.
Journal History - February 25, 1839; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pg 254.
116)
Sidney Rigdon through an eloquent speech
obtained bail and fled to Illinois.
Saints Herald - August 2, 1884; Times and Seasons - July 15,
1843, 4:278; An Appeal to the American People 1840, pg 158; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pgs 254-255.
117) Sidney Rigdon
denounced God after the Mormons in Missouri had been "abandoned".
Journal of Discourses - February 5, 1882, 23:12; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pg 261.
118)
Sidney Rigdon purchased Commerce, Illinois for the Mormons new headquarters.
History
of the Church, 3:265-267, 298; Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought -
Winter 1966, 1:38; Life Story of Sidney Rigdon, pg 159; Sidney Rigdon,
A Portrait of Religious Excess, pgs 263-264.
119) Sidney Rigdon
didn't communicate with the imprisoned Joseph Smith for two months.
History of the Church, 3:298; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pg 264.
120) Upon Smith's escape from jail, Rigdon sought revenge upon Missouri through political intrigue.
History of the Church, 3:310-312, 333; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pgs 264-266.
121)
God cursed the Mormons with malaria after another eloquent Rigdon sermon on July
7, 1839.
Wilford Woodruff's Journal 1983, 1:345; Dialogue: A Journal of
Mormon Thought - Winter 1966, 1:38; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pgs 266-267.
122) Without Rigdon who had malaria,
Smith met with President Van Buren and was quickly dismissed.
The Personal Writings of Joseph Smith 1984, pg 448; From Palmyra,
New York, to Independence, Missouri 1894, pgs 308-309; History of the Church,
4:21, 39, 80; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pg 269.
123) Without Rigdon who had malaria,
Smith lobbied Congress and was quickly dismissed.
Journal History - December 5, 1839; History of the Church,
4:81-98; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pgs 270-272.
124) Rigdon and Smith again started to
preach on the importance of money in 1839.
History of the Church, 3:350, 3:367, 4:407, 4:13, 5:357; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pg 278.
125) Sidney Rigdon secured the Nauvoo postmaster
position for his son-in-law in 1840.
History of the Church, 4:111-112, 121; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pgs 277-278.
126) Sidney Rigdon and Joseph Smith both filed for bankruptcy to
escape creditors.
History of the Church, 5:7, 5:51-52, 5:195, 5:382-383; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pg 279.
127) Rigdon could not counsel Smith as
he was mostly sick from 1839 through 1844.
Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought - Winter 1966, 1:39; Times
and Seasons, July 1, 1840, 1:134-136; Times and Seasons, September 15, 1844,
5:654; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pgs 279-280, 282.
128) Without Rigdon, Smith quickly
befriended John C. Bennett who would later write Mormonism Exposed.
History of the Church, 4:170, 172, 179, 249, 270; D & C 124:17; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pg 281.
129) Smith gave Rigdon a new house in Nauvoo to keep him from moving back to Pittsburgh.
Saints Herald, February 5, 1887; D & C 124:103-109; Nauvoo -
Early Mormon Records, 1:21-22; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pg 282.
130) Smith further induced Rigdon to
stay in Nauvoo by having him become the postmaster, councilman, professor,
chaplain of the Nauvoo Legion, and regent of Nauvoo University in 1841.
Times and Seasons, December 15, 1841, 2:631; History of the
Church, 4:303-305; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pg 283.
131) Sidney Rigdon delivered the keynote speech for the eleventh
anniversary of the church.
History of the Church, 4:327-329; Times and Seasons - April 15,
1841, 2:381-382; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pgs 283-284.
132) Rigdon's baptismal regeneration
heresy led to the baptism for the dead heresy.
D & C 124:29-36; Times and Seasons - April 15, 1841, 2:387;
Journal History - April 11, 1841; Journal of Williams Huntington, BYU Special
Collections; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pg 284.
133) Hyrum Smith convinced Joseph Smith
to elevate Sidney Rigdon to the office of prophet.
A Collection of Facts Relative to the Course Taken by Elder
Sidney Rigdon 1844, pg 14; Times and Seasons, June 1, 1841 - 2:431; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pgs 284-285.
134) A sickly Sidney Rigdon could not control the sexual
misconduct of his false prophet Joseph Smith.
Mormon Enigma 1984, pg 64; Salt Lake Tribune - September 22,
1889, October 6, 1875; I Knew the Prophets 1976, pgs 38-39; Ten Years Before the
Mast, pg 72; Max H. Parkin, M.A. thesis, BYU, 1966, pg 174; Oliver Cowdery
Letter - January 21, 1838, Huntington Library; The Braden and Kelley Debate
1884, pgs 202, 391; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pgs 290-291.
135) With Rigdon sick with malaria,
Joseph Smith was sexually out of control while making public denials.
A Record of the Organization and Proceedings of the Female Relief
Society of Nauvoo - Joseph Smith Collection; An American Prophet's Record 1989,
pg 417; Times and Seasons - February 1, 1844; Historical Record - July 1887,
6:226; Mormon Polygamy 1986, pgs 4-14; D & C 42:22; Revised Laws of Illinois
1833, pgs 198-199; Latter Day Saints' Messenger and Advocate - June 18, 1845;
Incidents in the Life of a Mormon Girl, pg 185; Narrative of Some of the
Proceedings of the Mormons 1848, pg 19; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pgs 293-294.
136) Joseph Smith tried and failed to
seduce Nancy Rigdon the daughter of Sidney Ridgon.
The
History of the Saints 1842, pgs 245-247; Sidney Rigdon - The Real
Founder of Mormonism 1885, BYU Collections; Life Story of Sidney
Rigdon, pgs 164, 169; Salt Lake Tribune, May 20, 1900; Wilford
Woodruff's Journal 1983, 2:168; History of the Church, 5:134-136;
Deseret News - December 12, 1855; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of
Religious Excess, pgs 295-296.
137) Sidney Rigdon confronted his false
prophet Joe Smith about his attempted seduction of Nancy.
The History of the Saints 1842, pg 246; Life Story of Sidney
Rigdon, pgs 166-167; Letter from Robinson to James A. Bennett, July 27, 1842;
Latter Day Saints' Messenger and Advocate - October 15, 1844, 1:15 - January 1,
1845, 1:75; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pgs 296-297.
138) The relationship between Rigdon and
Smith would never be the same due to Smith's sexual promiscuity.
Life Story of Sidney Rigdon, pg 175; History of the Church,
4:608, 5:6; History of the Saints 1842, pgs 44-45; Sangamo Journal, August 26,
1842; Manuscript History, August 29, 1842; Mormon Polygamy: A History 1986,
chapter 4; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pgs 297-298.
139) Sidney Rigdon remained quiet while Joseph Smith
resorted to slander of the women who turned him down.
History of the Saints 1842, pgs 228-231; Sangamo Journal, August
1, 1842; Wasp, August 27, 1842; Upon the Course and Conduct of Mr. Sidney Rigdon
1845, pgs 27-28; The Absurdities of Mormonism 1843, pg 16; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pgs 299-302.
140) Joseph Smith was envious of Sidney Rigdon's income as the Nauvoo postmaster.
History of the Church, 5:159, 184, 196, 266-267, 315-316,
368-369, 6:406; History of the Saints 1842, pg 248; Emma Smith letter, September
12, 1842; Sangamo Journal, November 18, 1842; An American Prophet's Record 1989,
pgs 304-305; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pgs 311-314, 316-319.
141) Sidney Rigdon and Joseph Smith
reconciled in time for the Spring 1843 general conference.
The Words of Joseph Smith 1980, pg 174; An American Prophet's
Record 1989, pgs 342-343, 353; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pg 319.
142) With this 1843 spring
reconciliation, Rigdon's autobiography was published in Times and Seasons.
Times and Seasons - May 15, 1843, 4:193-194 - June 1, 1843,
4:209-210 - August 15, 1843, 4:289-290 - September 15, 1843, 4:320-21; Journal
History - May 9, 1843; An American Prophet's Record 1989, pg 376; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pgs 319-320.
143) Sidney Rigdon remained in
power despite Joseph Smith's worries over being arrested.
Mormon Portraits 1886, pg 255; History of the Church, 5:168,
531-532, 553-554, 6:47-49; Times and Seasons - December 15, 1842, 4:33-36 -
October 15, 1843, 4:330; Wasp - September 24, 1842; Journal History - January
10, 1843, October 7-8, 1843; An American Prophet's Record 1989, pg 302, 406;
Wickliffe Rigdon statement - July 28, 1905; The Personal Writings of Joseph
Smith 1984, pgs 555-556; Illinois State Register - July 18, 1843; Journal
History - August 13, 1843; The Words of Joseph Smith, pg 243; Life Story of
Sidney Rigdon, pgs 178-179; Latter Day Saints' Messenger and Advocate - December
6, 1844; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pgs 314-318, 320-325.
144) Smith and Rigdon ran for President
and Vice-President to gain special privileges for Mormons.
Times and Seasons - June 1, 1844, 5:547; An American Prophet's
Record 1989, pgs 425, 443, 456, 477; History of the Church, 6:197-209; A
Collection of Facts Relative to the Course Taken by Elder Sidney Rigdon 1844, pg
16; Correspondence of Bishop George Miller 1916, pgs 20-21; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pgs 331-332.
145) Sidney Rigdon was the main speaker
during the spring 1844 general conference.
Journal History - April 6, 1844; General Minutes Collection -
April 6, 1844; Wilford Woodruff's Journal 1983, 2:374-375, 378; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pgs 332-333.
146) Rigdon advocated the heresy that salvation was through the
Mormon church.
General Minutes Collection - April 6, 1844; Wilford Woodruff's
Journal 1983, 2:378; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pg 333.
147) Smith followed Rigdon's lead by
preaching the King Follett funeral sermon where he taught the heresy that humans
could progress to become gods.
General Minutes Collection - April 7, 1844; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pg 334.
148) Sidney Rigdon and William Law, the
counselors in the First Presidency, tried to eliminate polygamy.
An American Prophet's Record 1989, pgs 468, 472; History of the
Church, 6:321; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pg 334.
149) Joseph Smith unwisely excommunicated William Law over polygamy.
Thomas Gregg May 1844 letter, Chicago Historical Society; William Law,
Nauvoo Dissenter, BYU Studies - Winter 1982, 22:68; Nauvoo Expositor,
1:1; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pgs 334-335.
150) Joseph Smith unwisely ordered the
destruction of William Law's Nauvoo Expositor's press.
History of the Church, 6:438, 466-467; An American Prophet's
Record 1989, pg 490; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pg 335.
151) Sidney Rigdon wisely left Nauvoo for Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania with his family.
History of the Church, 6:469-470; Saints Herald, February 5,
1887; Joseph Smith's personal diary - June 22, 1844, BYU special collections;
Life of Sidney Rigdon, pgs 178-179; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pgs 335-336.
152) Sidney Rigdon wanted
total control of the Mormon church after the death of Joseph Smith.
A Collection of Facts Relative to the Course Taken by Elder
Sidney Rigdon 1844, pgs 44-45; Speech of Elder Orson Hyde - April 27, 1845;
Journal History - August 4, 1844; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pgs 336-337.
153) August 6, 1844 was the private
showdown between Sidney Rigdon and Brigham Young.
History of the Church, 7:226; August 6, 1844 Quorum of the Twelve
minutes; William Clayton's diary, LDS church first presidency; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pg 338.
154) August 8, 1844 was the public
showdown between Sidney Rigdon and Brigham Young.
General Minutes Collection - August 8, 1844; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pg 339.
155) Brigham Young stopped Sidney Rigdon's sermon and
ended the morning meeting.
Speech of Orson Hyde - April 27, 1845; Journal History - October
6, 1860; Jacob Hamblin 1909, pgs 20-21; Wilford Woodruff's Journal 1983,
2:434-435; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pg 339.
156) Young catered to the crowd and gained control of the
Mormon church during the afternoon meeting.
Journal History - August 8, 1844; Times and Seasons - September
2, 1844, 5:637; General Minutes Collection - August 8, 1844; Wilford Woodruff's
Journal 1983, 2:434-440; History of the Church 7:231-242; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pgs 339-341.
157) Brigham Young and the Quorum of the Twelve justified their power grab.
General Minutes Collection - August 8, 1844; Journal of
Discourses - October 6, 1869, 13:180; The Elders' Journal - April 16, 1910,
7:682; I Knew the Prophets 1976, pg 35; Times and Seasons - September 2, 1844,
5:632; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pgs 341-343.
158) Later exaggerated accounts tell of a transformation of
Brigham Young into a prophet on August 8, 1844.
Times and Seasons - October 15, 1844, 5:675; Heart Throbs of the
West 1943, 4:420; Journal of Discourses - October 6, 1869, 13:181 - April 8,
1872, 15:81 - April 5, 1877, 19:58 - October 22, 1882, 23:358; A Biographical
Sketch of John Riggs Murdock 1909, pg 71; The Pulsipher Family History Book
1953, pgs 10-24; Jacob Hamblin 1952, pg 22; The Elders' Journal - April 16,
1910, 7:683; The Life Story of Robert Taylor Burton 1988, pg 49; Our Pioneer
Heritage 1963, 6:203; Ezra T. Benson 1947, pgs 88-89; Faith Promoting Stories
1943, pg 137; The Benson Family 1979, pg 238; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pg 343.
159) In reality, the force of Young's
personality won the day on August 8, 1844 for the Quorum of the Twelve.
Correspondence of Bishop George Miller 1855; Letter from Rigdon
to Young dated December 6, 1870 - BYU Collections; Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pgs 343-345.
160) Sidney Rigdon threatened Brigham
Young to disclose secrets of the church.
History of the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints, 7:267; Who Really Wrote the Book of Mormon?, pg 158-160.
161) Brigham Young countered Sidney Rigdon
with discloser threats.
A Collection of Facts Relative to the Course
Taken by Elder Sidney Rigdon, 1844, pg 35; Who Really Wrote the Book of Mormon?,
pg 158.
162) Sidney
Rigdon proclaimed himself a prophet after leaving for Pittsburgh where
it all began with the discovery and theft of Solomon Spaulding's
"Manuscript Found."
Sidney Rigdon, A Portrait of Religious Excess, pgs 17, 367-381.
Webmaster note:
With the death of Joseph Smith and the excommunication of Sidney Rigdon, control
of the Mormon church shifted from the con-artist false prophets to the business
manager false prophets beginning with Brigham Young. The business managers ceased
making the numerous false prophecies that were characteristic of the Joe Smith and
Sidney Rigdon
era. Brigham Young gave only one "revelation" and that being Doctrine and
Covenants section 136 where the Mormon membership were told to obey his commandments and how to be organized
during the western migration to Utah. Other business manager prophecies were the
1890 declaration that polygamy was no longer allowed and the 1978 declaration
that blacks would no longer be discriminated against. The 1890 and 1978
declarations were simply made to keep the Mormon church in step with the
accepted morals of the United States of America. The business manager false
prophets of the Mormon church (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)
continue to practice misinformation and deception to the present about Mormon history.